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My Own Dear People
A young Jamaican man struggles to overcome toxic masculinity—his culture’s and his own—in this Caribbean coming-of-age novel
In high school in Montego Bay, Jamaica, teenager Nyjah Messado witnessed the rape of Maude Dallmeyer, a teacher trainee. Some of the boys who committed the assault are his friends and he’s soon torn between the masculine code at the all boys’ school and his own conscience. This guilt haunts him during his years away at college. It continues to weigh heavily upon him when he returns home, and Nyjah finds it increasingly difficult for him to spend time with his best friend, Chadwell, who participated in the rape. A unique chance to reunite with Maude gives Nyjah the opportunity to admit his complicity as a do-nothing witness, and ask for forgiveness. But will he take it? And will she accept it—or will his own journey for inner peace only renew her trauma?
My Own Dear People is a multilayered story exploring both the effects of toxic masculinity and the bonds of friendship. We see Nyjah trying to come to terms with his own place in multiple in his family; at school, with its colonial Eurocentric ethos; and within the religion and politics of Montego Bay and the city’s criminal gangs. Through his time away at college, he is beginning to develop his own sense of accountability and an understanding of the life he is living.
Stylistically engaging and ambitious in scope, the novel takes us through a sweeping movement between the younger and more mature selves of from the homophobia prevalent in Jamaican boys’ schools and the institutionalized form it takes, to the paranoia and denial surrounding adolescent sexuality, to the corruption of a society that runs so nakedly on power relations and social class. Similar to Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life and Kate Walbert’s His Favorites, My Own Dear People looks unflinchingly at proclivities toward cruelty, particularly toward women and LGBTQ+ people. Dwight Thompson elevates the tradition of the coming-of-age novel by boldly examine how sexual predation crosses both gay and straight worlds.
In high school in Montego Bay, Jamaica, teenager Nyjah Messado witnessed the rape of Maude Dallmeyer, a teacher trainee. Some of the boys who committed the assault are his friends and he’s soon torn between the masculine code at the all boys’ school and his own conscience. This guilt haunts him during his years away at college. It continues to weigh heavily upon him when he returns home, and Nyjah finds it increasingly difficult for him to spend time with his best friend, Chadwell, who participated in the rape. A unique chance to reunite with Maude gives Nyjah the opportunity to admit his complicity as a do-nothing witness, and ask for forgiveness. But will he take it? And will she accept it—or will his own journey for inner peace only renew her trauma?
My Own Dear People is a multilayered story exploring both the effects of toxic masculinity and the bonds of friendship. We see Nyjah trying to come to terms with his own place in multiple in his family; at school, with its colonial Eurocentric ethos; and within the religion and politics of Montego Bay and the city’s criminal gangs. Through his time away at college, he is beginning to develop his own sense of accountability and an understanding of the life he is living.
Stylistically engaging and ambitious in scope, the novel takes us through a sweeping movement between the younger and more mature selves of from the homophobia prevalent in Jamaican boys’ schools and the institutionalized form it takes, to the paranoia and denial surrounding adolescent sexuality, to the corruption of a society that runs so nakedly on power relations and social class. Similar to Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life and Kate Walbert’s His Favorites, My Own Dear People looks unflinchingly at proclivities toward cruelty, particularly toward women and LGBTQ+ people. Dwight Thompson elevates the tradition of the coming-of-age novel by boldly examine how sexual predation crosses both gay and straight worlds.
344 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 16, 2026
This was a painful read…. I almost didn’t make it through…
The book opens with Nyjah Messado leaving for Montego Bay after getting a job as a teacher in his old community. Nyjah is dreading going back because of an incident that happened while he was attending an all boy’s school- that incident continues to haunt him years later. The people who are his friends were all implicated in the incident but they also go away with it and he is never sure how to address what happened.
The book attempts to address toxic masculinity and what it is like for young boys growing up in Jamaica. While I appreciate the author’s attempt to be unflinching and irreverent, this was not it. I loathe this entire reading experience. It was drawn out, filled with side characters and scenes that did NOTHING to push the plot along. While I am always up for dialogue, this book was 98% dialogue and at a certain point it was exhausting and downright silly.
This is not it.
The book opens with Nyjah Messado leaving for Montego Bay after getting a job as a teacher in his old community. Nyjah is dreading going back because of an incident that happened while he was attending an all boy’s school- that incident continues to haunt him years later. The people who are his friends were all implicated in the incident but they also go away with it and he is never sure how to address what happened.
The book attempts to address toxic masculinity and what it is like for young boys growing up in Jamaica. While I appreciate the author’s attempt to be unflinching and irreverent, this was not it. I loathe this entire reading experience. It was drawn out, filled with side characters and scenes that did NOTHING to push the plot along. While I am always up for dialogue, this book was 98% dialogue and at a certain point it was exhausting and downright silly.
This is not it.
April 9, 2025
1/5 STARS! This book is so disturbing and upsetting. A take on toxic masculinity and hanging with the wrong crowd, it's a harsh portrayal of the hard life of young Jamaican boys & their culture towards gay men & women in general. None of the characters are likable & the constant lewd acts of the characters was honestly too much imo. I know the author was trying to convey a message, but it just was too unsettling & dark. I also had a very tough time keeping up with the slang & dialogues in this. Overall, I say this is one that unsettles you to your core. Maybe that is the message here, you can't quite escape your hometown & the culture around you.
Thank you to Akashic Press for the review copy.
Thank you to Akashic Press for the review copy.
March 31, 2026
2.5/5
I initially picked up this novel because it was discussing an important subject matter. It’s a coming-of-age story set in Jamaica exploring themes of toxic masculinity, friendship, culture, and violence against women. I understand what the author was aiming to write about and appreciate that it attempted to tackle these issues.
However, all the characters were plain disgusting. These were sensitive topics, and I don’t feel that justice was done to this important subject matter. I understand what was trying to be said regarding Perry’s sexuality, but I feel the way the issue was approached was wrong. I also don’t like the message that was being said towards the end of the novel regarding Maude’s abuse. Furthermore, many of the storylines felt unresolved and didn’t feel like justice was served for the characters. But maybe another part of the message the author wanted to deliver was that many times issues like these can be left unresolved. Despite the author’s intentions and efforts, the way it was delivered made the novel incredibly difficult to finish. Also, I felt like the novel was really graphic, repulsive, and quite insensitive at times. I understand that it can be important to illustrate certain events to show the depth of the issue, but the way it was played out was quite insensitive & repulsive. It was overly sexualized, and I felt that some of this should be cut back. I feel like the novel should definitely have graphic/content warnings.
On top of this, there were a few things fundamentally wrong with the novel. The first was the way the book was formatted, which made it confusing to follow along with the timeline. In addition, the novel was quite dialogue-heavy and was also written in patois. Although this enhances the reading experience and gives a feel for the characters, it can sometimes be difficult to read. If this had been addressed and the dialogue had been a bit less bulky, it would have given a better reading experience. The novel would have benefited from a more streamlined plot, focusing more on the general issues rather than drifting to other topics. Moreover, I felt the subplots or certain scenes didn’t really add to the main plot or add more perspective to the characters.
Overall, I appreciate the author’s effort to tackle these issues, and I hope that the author can address these issues in upcoming novels.
I initially picked up this novel because it was discussing an important subject matter. It’s a coming-of-age story set in Jamaica exploring themes of toxic masculinity, friendship, culture, and violence against women. I understand what the author was aiming to write about and appreciate that it attempted to tackle these issues.
However, all the characters were plain disgusting. These were sensitive topics, and I don’t feel that justice was done to this important subject matter. I understand what was trying to be said regarding Perry’s sexuality, but I feel the way the issue was approached was wrong. I also don’t like the message that was being said towards the end of the novel regarding Maude’s abuse. Furthermore, many of the storylines felt unresolved and didn’t feel like justice was served for the characters. But maybe another part of the message the author wanted to deliver was that many times issues like these can be left unresolved. Despite the author’s intentions and efforts, the way it was delivered made the novel incredibly difficult to finish. Also, I felt like the novel was really graphic, repulsive, and quite insensitive at times. I understand that it can be important to illustrate certain events to show the depth of the issue, but the way it was played out was quite insensitive & repulsive. It was overly sexualized, and I felt that some of this should be cut back. I feel like the novel should definitely have graphic/content warnings.
On top of this, there were a few things fundamentally wrong with the novel. The first was the way the book was formatted, which made it confusing to follow along with the timeline. In addition, the novel was quite dialogue-heavy and was also written in patois. Although this enhances the reading experience and gives a feel for the characters, it can sometimes be difficult to read. If this had been addressed and the dialogue had been a bit less bulky, it would have given a better reading experience. The novel would have benefited from a more streamlined plot, focusing more on the general issues rather than drifting to other topics. Moreover, I felt the subplots or certain scenes didn’t really add to the main plot or add more perspective to the characters.
Overall, I appreciate the author’s effort to tackle these issues, and I hope that the author can address these issues in upcoming novels.
June 20, 2026
My second book read as part of my Caribbean Month reading (and in recognition of Caribbean American Heritage Month), I picked it up largely because of its stunning cover art, which remains my favorite thing about this book. Going in completely blind, I discovered a coming-of-age story centered on a young Jamaican man navigating questions of identity, masculinity, belonging, and personal responsibility in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The novel explores how cultural expectations and social pressures shape young men, particularly in communities where traditional ideas of masculinity can be both restrictive and damaging. While I appreciated the themes the author was attempting to tackle, I struggled to connect with the story itself. The pacing felt uneven at times, and I never became fully invested in either the protagonist or his journey. The exploration of complicity, gender expectations, and self-discovery is certainly important, but for me, the execution lacked the emotional depth needed to make those themes truly resonate. That said, I did appreciate the glimpse into Jamaican life and culture, which added richness and authenticity to the narrative. Readers who enjoy literary coming-of-age stories that examine masculinity and social conditioning may find more to appreciate here than I did. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t a great fit for me, but I’m still glad I read it as part of my effort to explore more Caribbean literature.
April 23, 2025
My thanks to LibraryThing Early Reviewers and to the publisher, Akashic Books, for my ARC.
The premise of this book intrigued me and I am always drawn to ethnic settings that provide exposure to new cultures. That being said, from the first chapter, it was sometimes a challenge to decipher the dialect and it became so cumbersome to Google vocabulary that I couldn’t even be bothered. Parenthetical or footnoted explanations/translations would have been helpful.
Narrator Nyjah Messado’s guilty conscience over his silence and inaction follows him into adulthood. When he was a teen, a young woman, a teacher, was brutally assaulted by his classmates, some of them his friends. Even others in his life can sense that something is off. His anger. His reactions. His apologies.
This was such a tedious read. I kept putting it aside and had to force myself to finish it. So relieved when I finally reached the end. I had no clue where the author was going with the story. If there was some deep meaning, it was completely lost on me. It was not only the subject matter, but the writing style, the excessive number of characters (most were unlikable, including the protagonist), the violence, the cultural misogyny and bigotry in Jamaica. Last, but not least, the gratuitous profanity, vulgar language, and graphic sexual content. It DEFINITELY should have come with trigger warnings.
The premise of this book intrigued me and I am always drawn to ethnic settings that provide exposure to new cultures. That being said, from the first chapter, it was sometimes a challenge to decipher the dialect and it became so cumbersome to Google vocabulary that I couldn’t even be bothered. Parenthetical or footnoted explanations/translations would have been helpful.
Narrator Nyjah Messado’s guilty conscience over his silence and inaction follows him into adulthood. When he was a teen, a young woman, a teacher, was brutally assaulted by his classmates, some of them his friends. Even others in his life can sense that something is off. His anger. His reactions. His apologies.
This was such a tedious read. I kept putting it aside and had to force myself to finish it. So relieved when I finally reached the end. I had no clue where the author was going with the story. If there was some deep meaning, it was completely lost on me. It was not only the subject matter, but the writing style, the excessive number of characters (most were unlikable, including the protagonist), the violence, the cultural misogyny and bigotry in Jamaica. Last, but not least, the gratuitous profanity, vulgar language, and graphic sexual content. It DEFINITELY should have come with trigger warnings.
June 7, 2025
Part of me wants to rate this higher because I see what the author was trying to do, and it was a solid A for effort. This book really tackles the issues of toxic masculinity in Jamaica, and how hard it is to overcome even when you are aware of it. However, every single character in this book is flat out disgusting with no redeeming qualities at all. Not a one. Some characters you feel sympathy for like Maude, and Briana and the grandmother, but even those characters are just gross to read about, and I didn't like them, I just felt bad for them. Every scene seems to end with terrible, horrifying violence that you sometimes get a warning about, but that mostly seems to come out of nowhere. This book has definitely made me certain that I never want to set foot anywhere near Jamaica (and it sounds like only the ickiest, lamest, most racist Americans end up there anyway).
The nice thing about the book was that the dialogue was written in patois so you got a sense of the characters speaking as they would amongst themselves. I didn't get everything they were saying, but that seemed like an intentional choice, which I appreciated.
The nice thing about the book was that the dialogue was written in patois so you got a sense of the characters speaking as they would amongst themselves. I didn't get everything they were saying, but that seemed like an intentional choice, which I appreciated.
June 19, 2026
Nyjah Messado is not haunted by ghosts but by a memory he can’t shake: the day he watched trainee teacher, Maude Dallmeyer dragged away by his schoolmates at his elite boys’ private school—and kept silent. The boyhood code demanded it, and that silence trails him through university and back to Montego Bay, a city polished for tourists but dangerous for its own people, shaped by street-gang politics and a lingering colonial order. As Nyjah navigates its charged streets, he’s forced to confront the man he has become in a world harsh to women and LGBTQ communities.
Normally, I love tough subjects and horrible characters, but this book was not it for me. It was a slog from the get go and took mre far too long to read it.
I was keen to read about the topic but the way it was written was hard to follow, needed a dictionary (which I got tired of doing) and really needed trigger warnings (and I am not normally *that* person who says books should have trigger warnings).
Be warned. There are some deep and disturbing themes in this book.
Normally, I love tough subjects and horrible characters, but this book was not it for me. It was a slog from the get go and took mre far too long to read it.
I was keen to read about the topic but the way it was written was hard to follow, needed a dictionary (which I got tired of doing) and really needed trigger warnings (and I am not normally *that* person who says books should have trigger warnings).
Be warned. There are some deep and disturbing themes in this book.
March 10, 2025
I received an advance copy of this book. Thank you
I had requested this book because I feel that this is an important topic and would really bring the subject to life. The style the author writes in, really set the scene and I could envision the settings. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time keeping track of all the characters and where the story was going. I found I got "it", but I also wasn't getting "it", if that makes any sense. The characters struggled with so many things, there was a lot of back and forth, a lot of bravado, that I always felt I was on the outside, way outside, looking in. There is a message in this book I know, but it failed to reach me like I thought it would.
I had requested this book because I feel that this is an important topic and would really bring the subject to life. The style the author writes in, really set the scene and I could envision the settings. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time keeping track of all the characters and where the story was going. I found I got "it", but I also wasn't getting "it", if that makes any sense. The characters struggled with so many things, there was a lot of back and forth, a lot of bravado, that I always felt I was on the outside, way outside, looking in. There is a message in this book I know, but it failed to reach me like I thought it would.
March 31, 2025
Nyjah Messado is from Montego Bay, Jamaica and has witnessed a brutal assault by some of his friends. He doesn't intervene and carries that guilt with him. We get to know him in his younger and older years.
I kind of found this book hard to read because of the language. Had a hard time understanding some of the things that were going on at a given point.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I kind of found this book hard to read because of the language. Had a hard time understanding some of the things that were going on at a given point.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
May 27, 2026
A gripping examination of toxic masculinity and patriarchy in Jamaica, elevated by the raw psychological depth of its protagonist. His overwhelming guilt and self-loathing make for a deeply compelling and tragic character study.
January 29, 2026
Beautifully written and deeply moving. The use of patois and shifting timelines adds richness to a story that bravely examines guilt, identity, and moral responsibility.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
This was a good read. I do feel the reader should be familiar with Jamaica to read the book. The book went from past to present and was quite interesting.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews